About CRADC Computing

The Cornell Restricted Access Data Center (CRADC) operates a secure computing system, a windows domain secured by a firewall, that permits Cornell researchers to acquire, house, and analyze restricted-use data for scientific research. Access to the CRADC computing system is limited to those using restricted-use data for their research.

The CRADC maintains a secure computing system, a Windows domain that exceeds the U.S. Defense Department C-2 standards for trusted computing environments. The domain includes six 32-bit servers, one 64-bit server and a file server. The system is remotely accessible using a Remote Desktop Connection or a Terminal Services Client and the domain controller employs user-based authentication. The system enforces strict guidelines for selecting user passwords, and requires users to change their passwords periodically. The system does not permit connection to the outside world via FTP, E-mail, Web, Print, or disk mapping facility. The system Data Custodians may remove non-confidential summary data and programming at the request of an authorized user after verifying that the files to be removed comply with the data use agreement governing the confidential data used. All CRADC users, system administrators, and custodians, are required to sign an appropriate CRADC Computing System Data User Agreement. Data providers are required to certify their authority to provide the data and to formalize the relationship with the CRADC by executing a data provider agreement.

The compute nodes in the CRADC system include a number of sophisticated software packages for data analysis, as well as other tools for organizing researchers' work. Currently, installed software packages include multi-processor enabled versions of SAS, Matlab, Compaq Visual Fortran V6, and MPIPro; and single-processor enabled versions of ASReml, aML, Atlas-ti, Stata SE, SPSS, Limdep/NLogit, GLIM, Genstat, Gauss, and eViews. There are also data conversion software (StatTransfer) and other tools like TextPad, Microsoft Office, Scientific Workplace, and Adobe Acrobat. All software is installed so that temporary files created by the application are saved in the data-user's private disk and not in areas where unauthorized users may have access.

The CRADC computing accounts are limited to those using restricted-use data for their research. To apply for an account contact the CRADC Manager.

NOTE: Researchers who wish to have access to these tools for working with non-resticted data may obtain accounts on CISER's general computing system.